The amount of snow in Otaru Hokkaido has reached over 100cm by the 7th of January, which is much larger compared with the amount of an average year. Thick and tall walls created with snow have narrowed the roads half as much as they are in summer, and they sometimes bring about serious traffic jam.
The expressway between Otaru and Sapporo is often closed because of snowstorms at this time of year. Otaru people are well adapted to the precarious state of traffic and the changeable weather in winter, and when they go out, they always keep it in mind to leave home much earlier than they do in summer for fear of being late.
Snow sometimes is a nuisance, still it is beautiful, especially on a sunny day, and the blessings the snow brings us are immeasurable.
